Bangalore (India) (EFE).- The finance ministers and governors of the central banks of the G20 met for the first time this Friday in India, with the anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in the background while the United States and its allies to amass peer pressure in favor of Kiev.
The southern city of Bangalore will host the main sessions of finance ministers and central bank governors from this Friday until next Saturday, in the first high-level ministerial meeting organized by India since it assumed the presidency of the G20 (the countries with the most developed and emerging economies), last November.
“We are witnessing geopolitical tensions in different parts of the world, there are disruptions in global supply chains, many societies are suffering due to rising prices, and food and energy insecurity have become major concerns around the world.” Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a video message for the inauguration.
Ukraine is high on the agendas of ministers, especially those of the Group of Seven most developed countries (G7), who have waited to arrive in India to announce further support for Ukraine in the war.
The Japanese Finance Minister, Shunichi Suzuki, announced yesterday in Bangalore a financial aid to Ukraine of 39,000 million dollars for 2023 agreed by the members of the G7.
Suzuki, who did not reveal how much each country will contribute, highlighted the response capacity of the G7, made up of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States, which accumulate more than half of the world’s wealth.
However, within the framework of this appointment, so far neither Modi nor representatives of his government have made direct comments on the Russian invasion.
Today’s meeting takes place a day after India abstained from voting on a United Nations General Assembly resolution calling for a “cessation of hostilities” in Ukraine and the withdrawal of Russian troops, which ended up garnering 141 votes. favor.
The Spanish foreign minister, José Manuel Albares, said on Wednesday that abstention would not work because it would be counted by Russia as a position in his favor, while his Ukrainian counterpart, Dmitro Kuleba, called after the vote on India to show leadership during the G20 and said that “neutrality and balance” are not “the path to peace”.
A source involved in preparing the discussions in Bangalore told EFE that it will be “very difficult” for the group to reach a forceful position on the Ukraine issue, or unanimously ask China to agree to restructure or cut debts of economies under pressure.
The Russian minister was in fact the main absentee from today’s first session, held behind closed doors, on “International Financial Architecture,” a senior Indian government official told EFE.
For his part, the Chinese Finance Minister, Liu Kun, participated by videoconference.
Among the ministers and government representatives who traveled to India are the US Treasury Secretary, Janet Yellen; the Vice President of the Government of Spain, Nadia Calviño; the French Finance Minister, Bruno Le Maire; or the Argentine Minister of Economy, Sergio Massa, among others.
“You represent the leadership of world finance and economy at a time when the world is facing serious economic difficulties,” Modi said, without referring directly to Ukraine.
The theme chosen by India for its Presidency was “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” or “One land, one family, one future”, with ideas based on the pacifist messages of Buddha and the Indian independence leader “mahatma” (great soul) Gandhi, in the current moment of immense global instability.
The highlight will be the Summit of Heads of State and Government, which is scheduled to take place on September 9-10 in New Delhi.